Merck & Co executes option on novel small molecule program

13 January 2021

Tokyo’s Taiho Pharmaceutical and UK-based Astex Pharmaceuticals, both subsidiaries of Japanese drug major Otsuka Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4768), have extended a licensing deal with Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK).

Under the terms of the deal, Merck, which is known outside of the USA and Canada as MSD, gains an exclusive license related to a small molecule drug discovery program targeting the multifunctional therapeutic target SHP2.

An option for Merck to acquire the exclusive license to the Astex-Taiho SHP2 program was included as part of an earlier strategic oncology collaboration, agreed in 2020.

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